INTERMEDIATE FILM IDENTIFIER MARKING
A method includes impacting at least one identifier on a section of passing film for identifying the film as a source for content copied from the film.
The present invention generally relates to film and more particularly to marking an identifier on a film.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe large amounts of resources invested in film production makes it imperative that film content be protected from unauthorized copying or illegal distribution. Encryption and encoding techniques exist for protecting digital forms of film content. These techniques do not protect content on film negatives from unauthorized copying. Processing of film negatives by laboratories must be secure to prevent unauthorized copying or pirating of copyrighted film content.
Security markings or codes have been used in positive film prints, but these do not aid in identifying DVDs or computer files of motion pictures processed by laboratories from which unauthorized copying of film content occurred. One aspect of preventing unauthorized copying is to trace the source of the film processing laboratory that had possession of a film negative from which content was pirated or copied. Previous coding of film negatives required producing defects into the film, which may be deemed unacceptable to creative teams at film or motion picture studios.
Accordingly, there is a need for easy identification of the facility or laboratory in possession of a particular element of a film negative processed that was used to create a unauthorized copying of copyrighted film content.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA method includes impacting at least one identifier on a section of passing film for identifying the film as a source for content copied from the film.
An apparatus includes a guide having an opening and for being positioned over a film and an implement for being passed through the opening and impacting an identifier on the film.
The advantages, nature, and various additional features of the invention will appear more fully upon consideration of the illustrative embodiments now to be described in detail in connection with accompanying drawings wherein:
It should be understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustrating the concepts of the invention and are not necessarily the only possible configuration for illustrating the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONReferring now to the schematic diagram 10 of
A record of the film coding can be used to identify which film duplicate was the source for unauthorized copying of film content in the film duplicate. By tracking which film sample was processed by a particular laboratory, the unique coding can be obtained from unauthorized copies of the film content and the laboratory that processed the film duplicate and was the source for the unauthorized film content copy can be identified.
The film 1 sample is passed under a pin like implement 3 which is impacted on the film 1 to leave a physical identifier on a location of the film that does not adversely affect the media content on the film. Preferably the pin like implement is passed through a guide 2 or block which can assure repeatability. In the preferred embodiment, a mark or marks can be placed onto the film in the most inconspicuous areas of the film, so as to avoid being detected by film pirates or by the general viewing public. The pin like implement can be passed through the guide to impact the film duplicate in a location where the film content is not compromised. The processed inter-negative duplicate of an original film is hand-coded or may be automatically coded at distinct locations with the pin-like implement 3.
Turning now to
Having described a preferred embodiment for impacting a coding pattern on a film, which is intended to be illustrative and not limiting, it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. For example, the guide 2 is shown with three linearly aligned openings 13,14,15, but a different number and pattern of opening can be utilized to uniquely identify the film. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments of the invention disclosed which are within the scope and spirit of the invention as outlined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A method comprising the step of:
- impacting at least one identifier on a section of passing film for identifying the film as a source for content copied from the film.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one identifier includes a sequence of single spaced identifiers on the film.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one identifier includes a unique pattern of multiple identifiers impacted onto the film together.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising locating the identifier on the film for avoiding being detected by a viewer.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising locating the identifier on the film where media content on the film is unaffected.
6. An apparatus comprising,
- a guide 2 having an opening and for being positioned over a film; and
- an implement 3 for being passed through the opening and impacting an identifier on the film.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the implement is a pin like implement.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the guide is a block with the opening passing through the guide.
9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a top guide 12 and a bottom guide 4 between which the film is passed.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the top guide 12 is positioned between the guide 2 and film 1.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 26, 2006
Publication Date: Apr 1, 2010
Patent Grant number: 8068207
Inventors: Robert Arthur Olson (Moorpark, CA), Warren Raymond Proulx, JR. (Burbank, CA), Frank Joseph Macedo, JR. (Agoura Hills, CA), Steven Garlick (Chino Hills, CA)
Application Number: 12/448,284
International Classification: G03B 21/32 (20060101); B44B 5/00 (20060101);